Petition Says Marketers Start Christmas Promotions Too Early

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Whether she's trying to drive readers to her blog or develop business for herself doesn't really matter. What does matter is Lotus Child's (yes. apparently, that is her real name) effort to stop marketers from beginning their Christmas promotions too early. Claiming promotions beginning in November and October are just too over the top, Child has created a petition called Take Back the Holidays. So if you think we're getting overzealous with our Christmas advertising plans, head over to the petition and check it out.

by Steve Hall    Dec-14-06    
Topic: Agencies, Brands, Online



Sara Lee Skin Care Campaign Releases Bravia-Style

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Sanex, the Sara Lee body care brand (wait, don't they make frozen cakes?) is working with PR agency immediate future to release a European commercial Sony Bravia-style. The agency has set up a site that will follow the creation of the ad which involves "over 100 bodies imitating skin cells." We've been promised updates as the campaign develops and we'll share them with you, good or bad because, as you know, criticizing something can be as much fun as praising it.

UPDATE: Oops. Someone forgot to tells someone something. The ad's already out. So much for the sneak peeks. It aired in Denmark in November. We'll still share any goodies regarding the production of the ad if they are of any interest.

by Steve Hall    Dec-13-06    
Topic: Brands, Commercials, Online



Survey: Industry Undecided On Julie Roehm

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Given available facts, when queried on their opinions about whether or not Julie Roehm should have been fired from Wal-mart, the industry is clearly undecided and split right down the middle. Based on a survey of 509 Adrants readers, 250 think she should have been fired and 259 think she should not have been fired. Hardly conclusive and, well, hardly relevant either. It's just interesting to see where the industry sits on this issue.

by Steve Hall    Dec-12-06    
Topic: Agencies, Brands, Research



Sony Takes It Up the Ass For Fake Blog

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OK. We'll say this one more time. Are all you marketers listening? Good. There's a big difference between a teaser campaign and one that maliciously hides it's purpose for long periods of time. And, on top of that, denies its true mission when it's found out. What the hell are we talking about? Take, for example, the teaser billboard. It's usually some irreverent play on words and witty imagery that's then reveled to be part of a larger campaign a couple weeks later. Now take fake blogs. You've heard of them. Edelman knows all about them. They are the things marketers seem to think are the holy grail of this new social media thing. Let's get down with our customers. Let's "join the conversation." Trouble is, a fake blog - one that pretends (badly) to be all hip hop on our ass - is like an idiot that shows up at a black tie event wearing American Eagle cargo shorts and a t-shirt. The natural reaction to that is, "Who the fuck is that idiot?"

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by Steve Hall    Dec-12-06    
Topic: Brands, Opinion, Social, Weblogs, Worst



PUMA Has Hipster Orgasm or Breakthrough Moment of Cool

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We can't decide so we're going to ask you to help out. London-based production company created a promotional video for PUMA featuring BBOYS that's making the film festival circuit. We're told it's to support the relaunch of PUMA States. Take a look at it. We're having a hard time deciding whether this is actually something deserving of the label "cool" or if it's just another brand having a hipster orgasm.

by Steve Hall    Dec-11-06    
Topic: Brands, Video



Apple Skews Older than Ads Let On

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A recent study says that, contrary to the youth-savvy appearance of Apple ads, over 46% of Apple's user base is 55 and older. The 18-24 crowd actually shoot for Gateways, which makes more sense considering the average college student budget doesn't factor in a whopping $1500 laptop. Even if they do froth at the mouth for them.

In terms of mobility Apple still whoops everybody's ass. Purchase-wise they just may skew more toward the stodgy suited guy and less toward the cute crooked haircut guy in their sweet hand-holding ads. - Contributed by Angela Natividad

by Angela Natividad    Dec- 8-06    
Topic: Brands, Research



Lego Commits 'Advertising Crimes Against Humanity'

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Less than one day after a set of Lego ads appeared out of Saatchi & Saatchi China which bluntly belittled major world catastrophes, a video entitled Advertising Crimes Against Humanity has appeared on YouTube that doesn't paint a pretty picture for Lego or Saatchi. The video shows each of the three ads in the series and zooms in on the Lego logo. At the end, Saatchi's China phone number is provided and viewers are urged to direct their concerns to the ad's creators whose name are provided. We've placed a call but it's the middle of the night over there and no one answered.

We're hoping these are fake ads. If not, Lego may find itself in a bit of a PR fiasco.

by Steve Hall    Dec- 7-06    
Topic: Brands, Video, Worst



Danica Patrick Godaddy Super Bowl Spot Not Guaranteed

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During a press conference held today at Victory Lane in Arizona with GoDaddy CEO Bob Parsons and Andretti Green Racing's Danica Patrick who has signed a deal with GoDaddy to be a "GoDaddy Girl," Parsons could not guarantee Patrick's appearance in either of the two Super Bowl 2007 spots for which the company has contracted. It's unclear whether or not the spots will feature long time GoDaddy Girl Candice Michelle either but Parsons, ever the cagey one, did clarify both will be in several spots for the company in the near future. When asked when we might see a version of the completed Super Bowl spot, Parsons replied, "Game day, unless it's banned." Then we'll be able to see it online prior to the game.

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by Steve Hall    Dec- 5-06    
Topic: Brands, Celebrity, Good, Sponsorship, Super Bowl 2007



GoDaddy Swaps Out Big Breasts For Sleek Breasts

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In early October we wrote an open letter to GoDaddy CEO Bob Parsons suggesting he "retire breasts that don't bounce" meaning it's time for plastic-breasted Candice Michelle to go. Of the long-running campaign, we wrote, "It was mildly funny when she rubbed her boobs against the window while on that window washing scaffolding. But it's hardly funny at all to watch her run through sprinklers across a golf course while an old dude gawks 'Oh, the GoDaddy Girl!'"

While it's not clear whether Michelle is gone for good, a deal, in the works for a long time, with Andretti Green Racing IndyCar racing star Danica Patrick will become official tomorrow when Patrick is officially introduced as the new GoDaddy spokesperson at Victory Lane in Avondale Arizona. As part of the deal, GoDaddy is a sponsor of Andretti Green Racing.

During the event tomorrow, Parsons will interview the sleeker, highly-unlikely-to-bust-a-shirt-strap Patrick and it's expected he'll make his Super Bowl advertising plans known. With Patrick in the GoDaddy house, breasts will, apparently, take a back seat for a while.

by Steve Hall    Dec- 4-06    
Topic: Brands, Campaigns, Celebrity, Good, Super Bowl 2007



MSN Holiday Challenge Launches With Crashed SIte

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Sucks when you launch big holiday promotion and your site tanks. That seems to be what's going on right now with Micrsoft's MSN Holiday Challenge, a celebity-filled contest in which people can watch videos to get clues to win $50K, $20K, $10K prizes and a grand prize of $100K. Al Roker, Kristin Cavallari, Jerry Rice and Perez Hilton (fame whore:-) ) will be on hand to deliver the clues. That is once the site actually works.

by Steve Hall    Dec- 1-06    
Topic: Bad, Brands, Celebrity, Online, Promotions